Not all is gloom and doom with Japan learn and earn program

Quizzed at the
Question Hour at yesterday’s Assembly session on the controversial learn and
earn program in Japan, Prime Minister Dr. Lotay Tshering said majority of youth
who are in Japan through the program are doing well.

“If we go by what is written in
social media, all 800 or so youth in Japan are facing problems. But our own
assessment has shown that just about 60 youth who have returned and 30 or more
who are still in Japan are facing problems,” said Lyonchhen.

He said even his own relatives
are working in Japan as well as a daughter of one of the cabinet ministers.

The Prime Minister was
responding to a question raised by Dewathang-Gomdar Member of Parliament, Ugyen
Dorji, who asked what the government was doing to ensure that the problem faced
by Bhutanese youth in Japan is resolved and affected youth rescued and
remunerated properly.

Lyonchhen said that he has no
comments when it comes to those indicted by the investigating agency,
Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) but the government understands that it is
difficult to earn enough to survive in Japan as well as service the loan back
home. “We have to see what to do with the program henceforth.”

The Prime Minister said the
cabinet has decided that those already in Japan will continue learning and
earning. “They are facing problems mainly because they are studying right now.
After they finish learning Japanese language, they will get a job as per their
performance. And once they get jobs, it will be much better.”

To ease the burden on the
youth, the cabinet discussed to keep loan repayment on hold until they finished
their studies and get employed. The cabinet also deliberated on loan repayment
of youth who have already returned home and ways to employ them, for instance
through the Direct Employment Program.

The cabinet decided that the
labor minister accompanied by the finance minister and other members will lead
a team to Japan to study about the learn and earn program.“The problem will be
studied properly and we pledge that it will be resolved soon,” said Lyonchhen.

Lyonchhen also said that since
Japan is a first world, the working environment and culture are totally
different than in Bhutan and youth should have been familiarized with realities
in Japan before sending them.

“It is very evident that people
will get cultural shock. We have all the sympathy to the youth who had to
undergo such turmoil but for those still in Japan, our request is to continue
learning. The government promises to render all our support to all the youths,”
said Lyonchhen.

The controversy

The death of
24-year-old Bhutanese in Fukuoka, Japan on December 4 last year, who was in
Japan since October last year through the learn and earn program, sparked
heated discussions, with allegations against the Ministry of Labor and Human
resources and Bhutan Employment Overseas (BEO).

Around 735 Bhutanese youth were
sent to Japan starting 2017 till date through the learn and earn program
arranged BEO. Around 90 students returned home last year unable to cope with
working conditions.

ACC investigations found that
the labor ministry had illegally approved the BEO license. BEO had also charged
unauthorized translation fees amounting to Nu 3.832mn from 511 students. The
ACC has asked for the cancellation of BEO’s trade license.

In their petition to the Prime
Minister, the parents of the youth who have returned have alleged that due to
adverse situation, high financial liability, and difficult working conditions,
Bhutanese students in Japan may drift into severe depression. “Overwork, sleep
deprivation, and the stress of perfecting a foreign language have started to
take a serious toll on their physical and mental health. We believe the agency
did not prepare them well for the rigors of life in Japan, where
(statistically) death caused by overwork and depression is overwhelming,”
states the letter.

Further they accused BEO of
luring the students by convincing them that loans can be repaid within two
years and students would be allowed to work two jobs, save enough for tuition
fee and other living costs, and also get full employment on completion of the
language course. “However, we have come to know that the agency did not live up
to its commitment, and stand accused today of serious breach of contract.”

The petition letter states that
the students have been working part time illegally and in harsh
conditions. “Japan is a very expensive
country, and even by working two jobs, many will struggle financially. Forget
saving, it is difficult just to meet the daily living expenses.”

The petition letter also
accused BEO of excessively charging the students. Besides the Nu 57,000
placement/agent fees, BEO was accused of charging an additional Nu 17,000 per
student as visa, translation and documentation fees.

Further, it states that
ticketing contract for all the students were given to one agent, without
floating the tender, which deprived them of the best price and other associated
concessions. Also, all the flights were direct flights, which cost more.

The letter also alleges that
BEO misinformed the government and financial institutions regarding the success
of the program. “While the first two batches of students, totaling 129, were
unable to repay their loans on time, we were informed that the agency paid the
loan on their behalf, just to convince the banks, hence, getting the loan for
their third batch of 380, the largest by far, approved.”

Students who want to withdraw
were slapped Nu 50,000 as withdrawal fees by BEO, just to discourage them from
leaving the program, thereby, ensuring their profit margin is not affected.

Speaking to Business Bhutan,
Labor Minister Ugyen Dorji said the program was first of its kind and there
were loopholes and that the ministry is reviewing the program. “We are taking
time but definitely looking into the matter. There is a sense of urgency. We
are also looking into where the ministry has gone wrong? We are coming up with
the solutions though have not reached a definite solution as yet,” said Lyonpo.

BEO
refutes allegations

BEO
has refuted all allegations and charges against them.

The co-owner of BEO, Tenzin
Rigden, said that following discussions with labor ministry, the contract for
the students was revised and specific changes on the part time jobs were made.
“The clause on two part time jobs was there in the first agreement but in the
second one the clause was removed because two part time jobs were not allowed
in Japan,” said Tenzin Rigden. “My point
is if the previous agreement violated Japan’s law then we wouldn’t possibly
have it and that is why we had to change it.”

When the second agreement was
signed, the students were told that BEO would respect both the agreements.
“Even today, we will respect both the agreements and there is no issue about
it,” said Tenzin Rigden.

Responding on air tickets being charged high, he
said that the ticketing business was outsourced to Bhutan Tourism Corporation
Limited (BTCL) because BTCL was doing air ticketing for pervious business of
the partner of the BEO. “They gave us good discount and ticket fare was cheap,”
he said.

He said after several months some students from the first
batch complained about the air tickets to the labor ministry and an audit was
conducted. “Because of this and some
other complaints, the ministry decided to audit BEO. Officials from the
ministry came to our office and they audited and they did not come to a
conclusion that we had profited. The audit came out clean,” he said.

The BEO co-owner also said the cancellation fees
were determined and the amount was fixed by the schools in Japan. The
cancellation fees were levied so that the students do not cancel the seats.
Different schools in Japan have different cancellation charges.

What
youth who are in Japan and their parents say

Business
Bhutan talked to several Bhutanese
youth who are currently in Japan and their parents.

Sonam Tshering Dhendup, father of Jigme Lhendup who
is currently in Japan said that his ex wife is blaming him for sending their
son to Japan after hearing all the issues on social media and mainstream media
about the program. “I am in touch with my son but he has not shared anything
with me and he is reluctant to return too. I know he must be suffering but he
is not sharing with me and I am really worried about it,” he said.

He said the labor ministry and BEO have cheated the
parents as well as the children. “The former government is to be blamed and
should be held accountable. There was no outcome from the former government but
we are hopeful that there will be an outcome from this new government,” said
Sonam Tshering Dhendup.

A father requesting anonymity said though his son, who
is in Osaka, Japan, has not made any complaints but his son has not been able
to pay tuition fees and loan back home. “They have to work at odd hours and the
agency (BEO) had said that they can only do one job and later on the agency in
Japan will look for another job which will help them pay back their loans.”

This was promised here in Bhutan but it did not
materialize, he said. “As of now, my son is not able to pay his loan and I am
paying off his loan every month. I wonder how other students and their parents
who are not working are coping.”

An uncle of a youth who was in Tokyo, Japan, said
that his nephew could not cope with the working environment and living
standards in Tokyo and had to return home. “He is planning to go somewhere in
the Middle East to work and pay back the loan,” he said.

Kinley Penjor, father of Tashi Yangden who went to
Japan last September, said he has no complaints since his daughter is doing
pretty well. “I am in touch with my daughter and she seems to be doing well so
far. We were thoroughly briefed about the situation in Japan prior to the
departure by the agent along with the working conditions. I am well aware of
the situation there,” he said.

Besides he said that he is not worried about her as
she is doing well and adapting in Japan.

Tandin Pelmo, a graduate from Sherubtse College who
left for Japan a year ago, said that for her everything is normal. “It depends
upon an individual, whether you want to struggle or survive. Although life here
is very busy and tough the income we earn is far better than what we earn in
our country,” she said.

She said juggling work and study is quite difficult
but she is happy at the end of the day.

Another student in Japan, Deki Wangmo, said that
though life in Japan is not easy, one has to adjust to the new
environment. “I am able to cope with the
situation now but only problem is having to work and study,” she said.

Tenzin, 27, based in Osaka said that he has not
encountered any problems though the work is bit challenging. “At the end of the
day if any work pays the bills and loan, then what more can one expect?”

“It is difficult here but it is not easy either in
Bhutan. If you have positive mindset and if you really work hard then I don’t
see any problems,” he said. “Personally, for me this is the best decision I
have ever made to come here to learn and earn,” he said.

Another student, Namgay Wangmo based in Funabashi, a city located in Chiba Prefecture, Japan, said that initially language and working long hours were the only problem since they were not used to the work culture. “But now all is good though the living expenses are higher compared to Bhutan. It is difficult to save but I am able to repay my loan.”